Donegal North East Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue has welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte that people who successfully applied to the Rural Broadband Scheme will be provided with broadband access this summer.
Deputy McConalogue said: “The Rural Broadband Scheme is an important way of providing broadband to homes and businesses in rural and remote areas can secure access to broadband. Of the 3,700 people that qualified under the scheme, 309 of these are in Donegal.
“Minister Rabbitte has confirmed that the verification process of the scheme is now underway and that the Internet Service Providers have informed the Department the areas that they can access. People who have applied to the scheme were contacted by the Department in February seeking their consent to allow the broadband providers to contact them. The applicants who have given their consent should now expect to be contacted again in April with offers. Subject to agreement between the applicant and the provider, services should be provided between May and July this year.
“The Minister has indicated that virtually all premises in the country are capable of obtaining a level broadband from a supplier. I certainly hope that this will be the case in Co Donegal. A reliable internet connection is a necessity not just for businesses, but also for day to day life for every household, from school work to completing online registrations and making bookings. I look forward to the time when all homes in this region have access to reliable broadband services.”
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